Ocular Morbidity among Earthquake Survivors in a Community Based Hospital in Nepal

Background Nepal suffered a massive loss of lives and property following devastating earthquake on Saturday 25 April, 2015 and 12 May, 2015. Though Nepal is prone to natural disasters and ocular trauma being important cause of visual morbidity, the impact of ocular trauma in disaster setting has rarely been studied. Objective The aim of this study was to report the spectrum of ocular morbidities among the earthquake survivors who presented to a tertiary care Hospital which lies close to major earthquake hit districts of Nepal. Method This is a hospital based retrospective study where details of all the cases with ocular injury or ocular diseases during first three weeks of earthquake were extracted from the record books of Ophthalmology and Emergency department. Detail ophthalmic examination findings and treatment received by the patients were also noted from the records, tabulated and analyzed. Result There were total 3679 earthquake survivors, majority from Kavrepalanchowk district, visiting our Hospital during first three weeks of earthquake among which 92 patients had ocular problems. Among the 117 affected eyes, 75% had unilateral involvement. Males and females were equally affected. Children and adolescents of age group 11-20 years was the most commonly affected age group. Spectrum of ocular injuries ranged from lid lacerations, conjunctival inflammation to sixth nerve palsy and traumatic optic neuropathy. Conclusion Ocular morbidity either in the form of ocular injuries or diseases were common in polytrauma cases among the earthquake survivors. Though most of them had eyelid injuries and conjunctival inflammations, vision threatening conditions were also observed which needed expert opinion and meticulous treatment.

A Hospital Based Study of Pterygium in Tertiary Care Hospital of Nepal

Background Pterygium, a triangular fibrovascular subepithelial growth of degenerative bulbar conjunctival tissue over the limbus onto the cornea, is one of the common ocular conditions that may result in discomfort, tearing, photophobia and significant visual impairment. Little is known about its epidemiology in Nepalese context. Objective The current study aims to analyze the epidemiology of pterygium in a hospital-based population in Kavre District, a mid hilly region of central Nepal. Method This was a prospective hospital based study carried out in the Department of Ophthalmology in Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital for a period of one year from January to December 2013. All the patients with pterygium, aged 21 years and above attending the outpatients department were included into the study. The epidemiological data was collected using a standard questionnaire and complete ocular examination was performed by the Ophthalmologist. Result A total of 7925 patients were seen in the Ophthalmology outpatient department during a one year period, out of which 5622 patients (age range 20-80 years) were eligible for the study. A total of 137 patients, 43(31.4%) males and 94 females (68.6%) had different grades of pterygium with mean age of 48.6± 12.8 years. The overall prevalence of pterygium was 2.4 %. Majority of the patients with pterygium were between 41-60 years. Fifty-eight percent of pterygium were of grade I followed by 41% of grade II. Unilateral and nasal pterygia were common. Conclusion The prevalence of pterygium is low in this hospital based population, majority of cases affecting females and old age population.

Yield of intensified tuberculosis case-finding activities using Xpert(®) MTB/RIF among risk groups in Nepal

SETTING

Twenty-two districts of Nepal, where intensified case-finding (ICF) activities for tuberculosis (TB) were implemented among risk groups under the TB REACH initiative in collaboration with the National TB Programme from July 2013 to November 2015.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the yield of TB screening using an algorithm with smear microscopy followed by Xpert(®) MTB/RIF.

DESIGN

A descriptive study using routinely collected data.

RESULTS

Of 145 679 individuals screened, 28 574 (19.6%) had presumptive TB; 1239 (4.3%) of these were diagnosed with TB and 1195 (96%) were initiated on anti-tuberculosis treatment. The yield of screening was highest among people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) (6.1%), followed by household contacts (3.5%) and urban slum dwellers (0.5%). Among other risk groups, such as prisoners, factory workers, refugees and individuals with diabetes, the yield was less than 0.5%. The number needed to screen to diagnose an active TB case was 17 for PLHIV, 29 for household contacts and 197 for urban slum dwellers. Of 11 525 patients from ICF and the routine programme, 112 (1%) were diagnosed with multidrug-resistant TB.

CONCLUSION

There was a substantial yield of TB cases among risk groups such as PLHIV and household contacts. Although the yield in urban slum dwellers was found to be moderate, some intervention should nonetheless be targeted because of the large population and poor access to care in this group.

Risk Factors of Preinvasive and Invasive Cervical Cancer

Aims: The objective of this study was to assess the risk factors of preinvasive and invasive cervical cancer.Methods: This was a prospective hospital based case control study conducted from April 2012 to April 2013, which included 91 patients in each group. Among cases, 34 were Cervical Cancer and 57 were Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia. Simple random method was adopted for selecting patients. Prefixed questionnaire was used. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 19.0.Results: In multivariate analysis, history of abnormal vaginal discharge and cigarette smoking were significantly associated with cervical cancer (p value of 0.001 and 0.003 respectively) and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (p <0.001). Whereas, early age at first sexual intercourse ≤ 16 years and more than one sexual partner of husband had only borderline significance for Cervical cancer (p value 0.049 and 0.038 respectively).Conclusions: Cigarette smoking and abnormal vaginal discharge were significantly associated with cervical cancer. 

Visual Outcome after Treatment with High Dose Intravenous Methylprednisolone in Indirect Traumatic Optic Neuropathy

BACKGROUND

Traumatic optic neuropathy is an acute injury of the optic nerve due to trauma. It is an ocular emergency, requiring early treatment though there is no proven standard treatment protocol for the condition. Various studies have shown improvement in vision after intravenous steroids, but not statistically significant. Studies have revealed even optical decompression surgery is not the ultimate treatment because of no significant improvement of vision. Our study aims to assess visual outcome after high dose (1 gram) of intravenous methylprednisolone in cases with indirect optic neuropathy.

METHODS

This was a non-randomized interventional study carried out in Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital from May 1st 2013- June 1st 2014.

RESULTS

There were 10 cases with indirect traumatic optic neuropathy included in the study. Four cases received IV methylprednisolone and six cases were observed without steroid treatment. Traumatic optic neuropathy was observed more in males[8 (80%)]with higher number in age group 21-30 years old. The visual recovery after intravenous steroid treatment was rapid and beneficial in cases with vision better than Non Perception of Light (NPL), even in cases presented 4 days after the trauma.

CONCLUSIONS

There was rapid and beneficial improvement in visual acuity after high dose of intravenous steroid treatment in cases with indirect traumatic optic neuropathy with vision better than Non Perception of Light (NPL).

Slip pulse and resonance of the Kathmandu basin during the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, Nepal

Detailed geodetic imaging of earthquake ruptures enhances our understanding of earthquake physics and associated ground shaking. The 25 April 2015 moment magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Gorkha, Nepal was the first large continental megathrust rupture to have occurred beneath a high-rate (5-hertz) Global Positioning System (GPS) network. We used GPS and interferometric synthetic aperture radar data to model the earthquake rupture as a slip pulse ~20 kilometers in width, ~6 seconds in duration, and with a peak sliding velocity of 1.1 meters per second, which propagated toward the Kathmandu basin at ~3.3 kilometers per second over ~140 kilometers. The smooth slip onset, indicating a large (~5-meter) slip-weakening distance, caused moderate ground shaking at high frequencies (>1 hertz; peak ground acceleration, ~16% of Earth's gravity) and minimized damage to vernacular dwellings. Whole-basin resonance at a period of 4 to 5 seconds caused the collapse of tall structures, including cultural artifacts.

Can Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy be a Feasible Standard in a Rural set up too?--An Experience of 348 cases from a Peripheral set up of Western Nepal

BACKGROUND

Gall stone disease is a common reason for admissions in both acute and elective situations and bears significant morbidity in the rural population of western Nepal. The earlier conventional open method of treatment for the same seems to have been largely seeded by the laparoscopic approach owing to its numerous benefits.

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical profile of patients with symptomatic gall stones with respect to demography and to assess the feasibility of using Laparoscopic cholecystectomy as the next standard in this set up too as guided by the outcome in terms of complications, conversion rates and potential impact it bears on the health and socioeconomic status in this group.

METHOD

A retrospective analysis of all the patients undergoing an attempted laparoscopic cholecystectomy from 1st Jestha 2068 to 30th Jestha 2070 was done. Relevant medical records were reviewed to study demography, various indications for operations, intra operative events including conversions and complications.

RESULT

Of 348 patients 293 (84.19%) were females and 55 (15.80%) were males. The mean age was 38.46 years (range 15-76 years). Most of the patients belonged to the Palpa district of Lumbini zone and many were from other surrounding areas. Gall stone disease was commonest in people of Brahmin ethnicity. The operating time was < 2 hours for most and most had an uneventful recovery with a mean hospital stay of 3.8 days. The rate of conversion to open cholecystectomy was 6.9% (24 out of 348 patients). Post operative complications were noted in 5 patients (1.42%). Of these 1 sustained a major bile duct injury (0.28%) requiring immediate conversion and repair, 3 had post operative bilioma and 1 had diffuse bleeding from the gall bladder fossa all requiring re explorations. There was no mortality in this study.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe, reliable and a promising option even in the rural peripheral set up. Due to its well known advantages and superiority over the open conventional method and considering the impact that it holds on the overall outcome, morbidity, health and socioeconomic status of the rural population, it can be recommended as an acceptable feasible standard in rural peripheral set up.

Retrospective study of spinal cord injury patients admitted to spinal injury rehabilitation center, Sanga, Banepa, Nepal

Spinal cord injury is a serious problem that affects many facets of an individual's life. This was a retrospective study which included data from all patients admitted to the Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Center (SIRC), Sanga with spinal injuries over a 4 year period between January 2008 and January 2011. The overall objective of the study was to determine the epidemiology of spinal injury patients admitted at the center. Socio-demographic details, mechanism of injury, level of injury, ASIA score and length of hospital stay of the subjects were recorded and analyzed. An incremental pattern was observed in the number of spinal injury patients attending SIRC. In the year 2008, 81 patients of spinal injury were recorded which increased to 122 in 2011. A total of 381 spinal injury patients were included in the study out of which a majority, 73.50% were male, 30.45% belonged to the 21-30 years age group and 23.10% belonged to the 31-40 years age group. A majority of Spinal injury patients, 189 (49.60%), were from the Central region followed by 89 (23.36%) from the Western region. Fall from height (68.24%) was the predominant cause of spinal injury followed by road traffic accident (18.63%). In the study, 213 subjects (55.91%) had ASIA A scoring and thoracic injury (49.34%) was most common followed by lumbar injury (29.66%), cervical injury (17.84%) and sacral injury (3.15%). About Two-fifths (40.42%) of the spinal injury patients were conservatively managed whereas three-fifths (59.58%) underwent surgery and length of stay of patients ranged from 2 to 305 days. This study shows that the young adults, predominantly males in their most productive years of life, are prone to traumatic spinal cord injury which results in personal and family tragedies along with socioeconomic burden to the nation. Thus, recognizing the pattern of traumatic spinal cord injuries, relevant etiological factors and identification of high-risk groups is necessary in designing better methods of prevention.

Allergic BronchoPulmonary Aspergillosis in Nepal

Allergic BronchoPulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) is clinically under recognized and often misdiagnosed in Nepal. A total of 15 cases of ABPA were enrolled in this case series. Cases were followed up after the 3 months of start of treatment and clinical responses were assessed. The mean age of the patients was 33.06 ± 9.2 yrs. 80% were male. 26.6% patients were empirically on anti-tubercular treatment at the time of presentation. 40% patients were misdiagnosed and already treated as pulmonary Tuberculosis. 10 patients were previously treated as cases of refractory asthma. Majority of patients had significant eosinophillia and raised total serum IgE. All patients required treatment with bronchodilator and systemic steroid. 80% patients underwent remission with the treatment. Pulmonary Tuberculosis and refractory bronchial asthma are common condition that leads to the misdiagnosis of this disease.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia; masquarding as hydropneumothorax

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia occurs in about 1 in 3000 births among which over 90% of the patients will be diagnosed either antenatally or will present with respiratory distress in the first few hours of life and about 5% to 30% of diaphragmatic hernias present beyond the neonatal period. The extent of herniation of abdominal viscera into the thorax may vary, leading to acute or intermittent symptoms. The inappropriate insertion of a chest drain, although relieving the symptoms temporarily, may result in serious consequences by damaging intrathoracic abdominal viscera. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal, 2013, Vol-9, No-3, 54-56 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v9i3.10223   

Association between Helicobacter Pylori and Gastric Cancer

INTRODUCTION

A casual relation has been thought to exist between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer. The present study was carried out to find correlation between H. pylori and gastric carcinogenesis.

METHODS

A case control study was performed in the department of endoscopy, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, between January 2008 and February 2009. All patients having carcinoma stomach on endoscopic evaluation later confirmed by histopathological examination were included. Total 50 healthy individuals, with no positive finding in endoscopy were included in control group.

RESULTS

Total 37 cases were analyzed. There were 23 (62.2%) males and 14 (37.8%) females. Majority were above 60 years (46%). Blood group A was commonest group found in patients with carcinoma stomach. Distal part, antrum, 20 (54%) was commonest location of tumor and Borrmann type three was commonest endoscopic type of tumor presentation. Majority of patients received triple therapy and H. pylori detection was low in those treated with triple therapy. Distal tumors were significantly associated with increased prevalence of H. pylori positivity. Total incidence of H. pylori in cases was 54% (20/37). In 15 (75%) cases, H. pylori could be detected by both ELISA and biopsy method. Incidence of H. pylori in controls was 64% (32/50). There was no statistically significant difference in H. pylori presence in cases and control.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study couldn't establish association between H. pylori and gastric cancer. More prospective trials can help find out correlation between combination of risk factors and gastric cancer.

HLA antigen distribution in renal transplant recipients and donors

BACKGROUND

HLA typing analysis is important in renal transplant patient. This study is the first report from Nepal to find out distribution of HLA A, B, DR antigen in live related renal transplant recipients and donors from Nepal. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of HLA in the live related renal transplant recipients and donors of Nepal.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, HLA patterns were defined in 100 live related renal transplant recipients and donors. One year study is done from June 2011 to May 2012. The study was done by using sequence specific oligonucleotides primers and polymerase chain reaction and assay. Allele frequencies were obtained by direct counting.

RESULTS

A total of 12 HLA-A, 15 HLA-B and 13 HLA-DRB1 alleles were identified at the four-digit level in the live related renal transplant recipients and donors of Nepal. High frequency alleles were HLA-A*11 (34.5%), A*24 (17%), A*33 (13%); HLA-B*15(27%), B*35(19%), B*40 (10%); HLA-DRB1*15 (33.5%), DRB1*12 (21.4%) and DRB1*04 (7.32%).

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed considerable heterogeneity in both HLA class I and class II antigens. To reduce the risk of allograft rejection, transplantation from HLA matched donors is recommended.

Clinicohistopathological correlation in leprosy

BACKGROUND

Leprosy is a chronic, infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It is classified into five groups based on clinical, histological, microbiological and immunological criteria (Ridley and Jopling Classification) . However, a great variation has been observed in the interpretation of histopathological examination ok skin biopsies and clinical presentation of the disease.

OBJECTIVE

To correlate clinical diagnosis with histopathological diagnosis of leprosy patients in Nepal.

METHODS

A retrospective hospital-based study was conducted among patients with all clinical types of leprosy, classified as per the Ridley-Jopling classification. Skin biopsies were taken from active lesions in all patients and were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin stain and modified Fite-Ferraco stain for identification of Mycobacterium leprae. The histopathological findings were compared with clinical diagnoses.

RESULTS

A total 156 patients were studied, out of which 84 (53.8%) males and 72 (46.1%) females between 8 and 86 years of age. The majority of patients 33 (23.57%) were in the age group of 21-30 years and least affected was children below 10 years 1(0.007%).Overall coincidence of clinical and histopathological diagnoses of classification was seen in 115 cases (80.4%). The maximum correlation (95.2%) was noted in LL patients (p value 0.000049) followed by BT(89.74%), TT (73.2%),BL(72.4%), BB(64.7%).

CONCLUSION

Leprosy still continues to be one of the common infectious disease in Nepal and skin biopsy is a useful tool in confirming the clinical diagnosis of leprosy as well as for the therapeutic guide.

Ciprofloxacin susceptibility of Salmonella enteric serovar Typhi and Paratyphi A from blood samples of suspected enteric fever patients

INTRODUCTION: Enteric fever caused by Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A is the common clinical diagnosis among febrile patients presenting to hospital in Nepal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ciprofloxacin (CIP) and other antibiotics susceptibility patterns of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A from blood samples of suspected enteric fever patients visiting KIST Medical College, Kathmandu. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method as per CLSI guidelines whereas MIC determination of ciprofloxacin was performed by agar dilution method. RESULTS: Altogether 64 presumptive Salmonella spp. were isolated from 840 blood samples of suspected enteric fever patients, of which 41 were S. Typhi and 23 were S. Paratyphi A. All Salmonella spp. isolates were sensitive to ceftriaxone and ofloxacin whereas 4 isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin. One isolates each of S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A were multidrug resistant. Fifty five isolates of Salmonella spp. were resistant to nalidixic acid (NA) with higher rate in S. Paratyphi A (91.3%) compared to S. Typhi (82.9%). MIC determination of ciprofloxacin revealed that majority of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and 2 isolates were resistant with MIC value of 4 µg/ml and 8 µg/ml. Importantly, we found simultaneous presence of NA resistance and decreased susceptibility to CIP suggesting that resistance to NA is a reliable indicator of decreased CIP susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS: Disc diffusion test failed to detect the reduced susceptibility of ciprofloxacin. Hence the MIC determination of ciprofloxacin against Salmonella spp. isolates would be important.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijim.v1i1.6938Int J Infect Microbiol 2012;1(1):9-13